Microdot tag

Abstract

A microdot tag for identifying a product, includes a substrate having a miniature marking portion for application to the product, and a handle portion larger in size than the marking portion to enable a user to manually hold the tag by the handle portion. A microdot containing indicia for identifying the product is applied on the marking portion. A frangible portion on the substrate between the marking portion and the handle portion, is provided for enabling the handle portion to be and remain attached to the marking portion during the application of the marking portion to the product, and for detaching the handle portion from the marking portion after the application of the marking portion to the product.

1. A microdot tag for identifying a product, comprising:
 a substrate having a miniature marking portion for application to the product, and a handle portion extending lengthwise along a longitudinal direction, the handle portion having a gripping part with a transverse dimension larger in size than a transverse dimension of the marking portion to enable a user to manually hold the tag by the gripping part, and a tapered part with a transverse dimension that decreases along the longitudinal direction away from the gripping part; 
 a frangible portion on the substrate between the marking portion and the handle portion, for enabling the handle portion to be and remain attached to the marking portion during the application of the marking portion to the product, and for detaching the handle portion from the marking portion after the application of the marking portion to the product; and 
 a microdot provided on an outer exterior surface of the marking portion, the microdot containing indicia exposed at the outer exterior surface of the marking portion for identifying the product both before and after the handle portion has been detached. 
 
     
     
       2. The tag of  claim 1 , and an adhesive backing on the substrate, and a removable release sheet covering the adhesive backing. 
     
     
       3. The tag of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the indicia and the marking portion is constituted from an ultraviolet (UV) light-responsive material. 
     
     
       4. The tag of  claim 1 , wherein the indicia is one of a machine-readable information and a human-readable information. 
     
     
       5. The tag of  claim 1 , wherein the handle portion carries data related to the indicia. 
     
     
       6. The tag of  claim 1 , wherein the marking portion has a generally circular shape with a diameter, and wherein the transverse dimension of the gripping part is greater than the diameter of the circular marking portion. 
     
     
       7. The tag of  claim 1 , wherein the frangible portion has a transverse dimension smaller than the transverse dimensions of the gripping part and marking portion. 
     
     
       8. The tag of  claim 1 , and a score line for weakening the frangible portion. 
     
     
       9. The tag of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate has a plurality of layers. 
     
     
       10. The tag of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate has another marking portion. 
     
     
       11. A method of making a microdot tag for product identification, comprising the steps of:
 forming a substrate with a miniature marking portion for application to the product, and with a handle portion extending lengthwise along a longitudinal direction, the handle portion having a gripping part with a transverse dimension larger in size than a transverse dimension of the marking portion to enable a user to manually hold the tag by the gripping part, and a tapered part with a transverse dimension that decreases along the longitudinal direction away from the gripping part; 
 weakening the substrate with a frangible portion between the marking portion and the handle portion, to enable the handle portion to be and remain attached to the marking portion during the application of the marking portion to the product, and to detach the handle portion from the marking portion after the application of the marking portion to the product; and 
 providing a microdot on an outer exterior surface of the marking portion, the microdot containing indicia exposed at the outer exterior surface of the marking portion for identifying the product both before and after the handle portion has been detached. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , and applying an adhesive backing on the substrate, and covering the adhesive backing with a removable release sheet. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , and constituting at least one of the indicia and the marking portion from an ultraviolet (UV) light-responsive material. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11 , and constituting the indicia as one of a machine-readable information and a human-readable information. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11 , and providing data related to the indicia on the handle portion. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the forming step is performed by forming the marking portion with a generally circular shape having a diameter, and forming the transverse dimension of the gripping part to be greater than the diameter of the circular marking portion. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 11 , and forming the frangible portion with a transverse dimension smaller than the transverse dimensions of the gripping part and marking portion. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 11 , and wherein the weakening step is performed by scoring the frangible portion. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the forming step is performed by forming the substrate with another marking portion. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the forming step is performed by forming the substrate with a plurality of layers. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the forming step and the providing step are performed by a laser. 
     
     
       22. A method of identifying a product with a microdot tag, comprising the steps of:
 forming a substrate with a miniature marking portion, a handle portion extending lengthwise along a longitudinal direction and having a gripping part with a transverse dimension larger in size than a transverse dimension of the marking portion, and a tapered part with a transverse dimension that decreases along the longitudinal direction away from the gripping part, and a frangible portion between the marking portion and the handle portion; 
 manually holding the substrate by the gripping part of the handle portion; 
 applying the marking portion to the product; 
 tearing the frangible portion to detach the handle portion from the marking portion after the marking portion has been applied to the product; and 
 providing a microdot on an outer exterior surface of the marking portion, the microdot containing indicia exposed at the outer exterior surface of the marking portion for identifying the product both before and after the handle portion has been detached. 
 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 22 , wherein the step of applying the marking portion is performed by adhering the marking portion to the product. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 22 , and providing data related to the indicia on the handle portion. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 22 , wherein the tearing step is performed by pre-weakening the frangible portion.